a beacon of memory and hope

The Memorial

“Look at these towers, passerby, and try to imagine what they really mean – what they symbolize – what they evoke. They evoke an era of incommensurate darkness, an era in history when civilization lost its humanity and humanity its soul… We must look at these towers of memory and say to ourselves, No one should ever deprive a human being of his or her right to dignity. No one should ever deprive anyone of his or her right to be a sovereign human being. No one should ever speak again about racial superiority…”

The New England Holocaust Memorial was built as a beacon of memory and hope, inviting all visitors to reflect on the impact of bigotry and to resolve to combat all forms of oppression. Located on the Boston’s historic Freedom Trail, near Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market and many other treasures of American history, the site offers a unique opportunity for reflection on the meaning of oppression – and freedom – and on the importance of a society’s respect for human rights.

The Memorial project was initiated by a group of Holocaust survivors living in the Boston area. By the time the site was dedicated, in October 1995, more than 3,000 individuals and organizations nationwide had joined in sponsoring the project.